Report, vindicating the Toronto Board of School Trustees from the attack of the chief superintendent, Dr. Ryerson, in his "special report" submitted to the Legislature, May, 1858 [microform]

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REPORT,

VINDICATING THE TORONTO BOARD
OF SCHOOL TRUSTEES FROM THE AT-
TACK OF THE CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT,
DR. RYERSON, IN HIS "SPECIAL RE-
PORT" SUBMIT'^ED TO THE LEGISLA-
TURE, MAY, 1858.

*TH07:i>f

Extracts from the Mmutes of the B. >y. T,
June 2nd, 1858.
, Mr. Tully having brought imH-,. .k ;' -^ n /^,')

m, R™. I ? Sapcrintendenl for C w'

".e employee*. 2 C^°" L'" ••"'« ^■> ■■"

h. ™.y .o„.idor «dvi«We .."Z;'" "" ^""'J"'' "
December I6,h. 1868. :, v„„, . ^^

».« Bo.rd.be no^ dl?ed /rr ' ."b""' ""»■'

p«^He^.„„r:.r:trorr^!'-"''

£■/([ — r'lrit/tjrjT :

"■'vrt't'^cr^o-f -rJ^.fff

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REPORT.

otjce of the
' "Special
for C. W/

' Trustees,
Superin-
farnfsh to
mbodying^
o been in
' been in
ents, and
■and such
object, as

'endent*8
ck upon
same I^^'
irpose of
ient and

r

no

To THK Chairman and Members op the Board
OF School Trustees.

Gentlemen, —

In uccordance with the Resolution moved at
your last meeting by Mr. Tully, and adopted by
the Board, I beg to submit the following Report
upon that portion of the Chief Superintendent's
Special Report on the Separate School Provisions
of the School Law of Upper Canada, recently
published (May, 1858), in which that official di-
rectly charges Toronto with having " ignored the
Notmal Schoolj though established within its
limits j'* and further asserts, in unqualified terms,
that " not a Normal School teacher has been placed
in charge of one of the Common Schools of the
city ; and only two or three employed in subordi-
nate positionsy" — thereupon founding the sarcasm
that if our City Schools have not, as yet, accom-
plished all that was hoped for from their estab-
lishment, the want of success is to bo attributed
to our having, as asserted, " ignored the Normal
School" — and further, making an invidious compa-
rison between Hamilton and Toronto, as regards
their respective common school operations — prais-
ing Hamilton as " an illustration of the Provincial
Normal and Model School System," at the expense
of Toronto, whose school system is vilified and
censured as being " old," and behind-hand, except
only as regards " school houses and school furni-
ture."

Had these assertions been put forward in a cene-
ral manner and in an ordinary Report, they might
have been looked upon, at the worst, as acciden-
tal mistakes, which it would have been quite enough
to have merely set right. But when misstate-
ments, such as these, against the common schools
of Toronto have been deliberately advanced, as it
would really seem, to subserve the purposes of a
particular Institution or System, for which so much
13 claimed and indeed exacted-and have further
been embodied in a Special Report, which has
been printed and circulated by thousands at the
public expense, and by authority of Parliament-
it becomes necessary to enter at some length upoa
the duty of replying to and refuting them-lal-
though in doing so I shall limit my remarks, as
much as possible, to facts and ^figures which will,
iiowever, speak for themselves.

The Common School System came first into
actual operation in Toronto in 1844, when the
city was divided into school sections, and the
schools were maintained (exclusive of the Gov-
ernment grant and an equal amount of city
assessment,) by a rate-bill levied on the parent,
of children attending the schools-each section
(of which at first there were 12 and afterwards 15)
having Its own local trustees (3 in number), who
appointed the teacher, and controlled all school
mat ers, withm their own respective sections.

Ibis mode of carrying on tho school affairs of
this city continued in force until July, 1847 at
Which time the law was amended, by placing the'

whole control prjd -o ,. ' r - - ^

*!, 1 \'l '"a^mgumcuc of tne sciiools in I

the hands of a Board of Trustees, appointed by
the city corporation. ^

■Hit

5

in a goQC-
ey might
' acciden-
ce enough
misstate'
n schools
Jcd, as it
)ses of a
so much
further
lich has
Is at the
iment —
th upoii
em — al-
arks, as
ch will,

at into
len the
id the
3 Gov-
f city
)arent3
section
■da 15)
), who.
school

lirs of
47, at
ig the
ols in
)d by

At the close of 1850 another change was made
in the School Law^ by the I'd and 14 Victoria,
chap. 48, and the elective principle was made an
element in School affairs — each ward in the city
was, under the, again, amended law, entitled to
return two (2) Local Trustees to represent its
School interests at the Board, which was now
invested with corporate powers and greatly en-
larged authority. The Elective Board initiated
its proceedings in October, 1850, but did not
exercise any direct control over the Schools until
the new year, 1851— and the elective system still
remains in force.

As the Normal and Model Schools did not exist
during the early period of School Sections and
Local Trustees, I shall pass on to the period when,
in July, 1847, the responsibility of the City School
System was in charge of the Board nominated by
the Corporation ; the establishment of a Provincial
Normal and Model School, and the formation of
a City Board, having been cotemporaneous.

During said period, namely from July, 1847, to
December, 31, 1850, the then Board of School
Trustees appointed, upon mij official Report, which
in a great measure was based upon the recommen-
dation of the Normal School authorities, the fol-
lowing persons, the same being Normal School
Teachers, and holding Normal School certificates,
to the charge of a school in the different sections,
namely : Mr. David Clyde, Mr. Robert McLelland,
Mr. Robert Robinson, Mr. David George, Mr. A.
McKinnon, and Mr. James Carruthers, — who
formed six (6) out of the nine (9) new appoint-
ments, of that grade, made during this period ;
while seven or eight Teachers, who had been

6

previously employed during the School Section
period, were continued in oflRco by the Board.

Proceeding onwards from January, 1851, when
the duties and powers ot the Elective Board came
into practical eflfect, wo find that the system of
School Sertions was abandoned, and the principle
of centralization adopted, shortly after the Board
was organized — the three new Central School
Houses first erected came into practical operation
early in 1853 ; the principle was soon after-
wards further extended ; and the three others
since erected were opened in 1855.

These new School arrangements naturally re-
quired many additional Teachers ; and during the
period the Elective Board has had the management
of the City Schools, viz., from January, 1851, say
to December, 1857, a period of seven years,
thirty-six {BQ), and not " two or three," Normal
School Teachers have been appointed to situations
in the City Schools ; and I submit a return of the
names of the Normal School Teachers, recognized
as such by that Institution, who have been so ap-
pointed— and the position those teachers occupied.
1st. Male department — Head Masters " in charge'*
two, viz: Mr. J. W. Shaw, firstly to the Park
School, and afterwards to Victoria Street School ;
and Mr. J. Carruthers, George Street School.

N.B. — Messrs. Brooke and Hunter attended the
Normal School part of a session, viz., when the
City Schools were closed, 1848-49 — six months in
each year — but they cannot properly be taken as
Normal School Teachers, and are therefore not
designated as such in this return.

Assistant Masters, 3 — viz. : Mr. Robt. Mc-

!

Causliind, Mr. Thos. Baxter, and Mr. Wm.

Ilackct.

Junior Assistants, 8— viz : Miss M. J. Kcown,
Miss A. Richards, Miss J. Robinson, Miss E. Ken-
nedy, Miss L. Piper, Miss Jane Mowatt, Miss
A. Foggin, and Miss A. Shennick.

Recapitulation— Male Department— Head Mas-
ters "in charge,'' 2; Assistant Masters, 3; Junior
Assistant (Females), 8— total, 13.

2nd Female Department— Head Misti esses " in
cJiarge," !j—\\x.: Mrs. Corbett, Phoebe Street and
Louisa Street Schools; Miss F. Rethell, George
Street School ; Miss A. McLean, the Park School;
Miss S. B. Quinn, Louisa Street School, and
Miss Borthwick, Victoria Street School.

N. B.— Miss Smytho, of the George Street
School, attended the Normal School for two ses-
sions, but, from some unexplained cause, her certi-
ficate did not reach her.

Senior Assistants, acting as, Head Mistresses, 2

viz: Miss E. Robinson, John Street School,

and Miss F. Gordon, her successor.

Senior Assistants, (where a Head Mistress is in
charge), 2— viz: Miss M. ll>ig, George Street
School, and Miss M. A. Ktn/iedy, Louisa Street
School.

Junior Assistants, 9— viz : Miss Emma Arnold,
Miss Emily Clark, Miss Josephine Clark, Miss E.
Hoig, Miss E. Campbell, Miss M. Wilkes, Miss M.
L. Williams, Mi^s Higgins, and Miss Bowes.

Recapitulation. — Head Mistresses " in charge",
5 ; Senior Assistants acting as Head Mistresses
in charge, 2 : Senior Assistants, 2 ; Junior Assist-
ants, 9 ; total, 18.

Occasional or Monitor Teachers, (in either de-

§

partmcnt), 5~viz ; Miss McLollnn, Miss A. M
Holmes, Miss S. Bethcll, Miss J. Stcacoy, and
Miss C. M. Churchill. ^

Summary.— Normal School Teachers appointed
to the City Schools, viz. : 1H47 ,to Doc. I8o0, 6
males ; Jan., 1851, to Dec, lSo7, 13 male depart-
nient, 18 female department; and 5 occasional
and monitor ; total, 42.

In addition to the foregoing, who have been
actually employed, I may mention that Mr. W. J.
Kelly, of the Normal School, was appointed Head
Master "mc?Aarr/f," of the Park School, as succes-
sor to Mr. Urown, although ho did not think pro-
per to enter upon the duties ; and Miss Coote and
M.S3 Whiddccombe, both Normal School Teachers,
were appointed Senior Assistants, acting as Head
Mistresses ; but being at the timo^ otherwise on-
gaged, they could not avail of the appointment.

And further, in addition to the foregoing, I may
also mention that the following six (tJ) Teachers
have received appointments during the present
year, 1858, and are now on the regular staff of the
schools, viz.: Mrs. Lawdor, Head Mistress "m
charge," Phoebe Street School ; Miss S. Hamilton,
Miss J. Armstrong, Miss M. A. Churchill, Miss
Agnew, Monitor Teachers, and Miss C. Ryan,
Tem^ovary— evert/ one of whom is a Normal School
Teacher.

The whole number of new appointments made
by the elective Board during the period of 7 years
it has existed, has been 64, of whom 36 have been
Normal School teachers, and of these, instead of
''not one;' as asserted by Dr. Ryerson. there
have been l head-masters in, c^ar^'^ of a central
school (not taking Mr. Kelly's appointment into

1

9^

'

account) ; 5 head-miatrcssos in charge of tlio fe-
male department; 2 senior assistantH, acting as
head-mistresses ; 5 assistant teachers (3 male and
2 female), and not less than twenty-two (somewhat
more than the '' two or three" of Dr. Ilycrson)
have been appointed to tho "subordinate position"
of junior assistants and monitor teachers.

From the time the Normal School was first
established in 1847, up to December 31st, 1857,
the whole number of now appointments has been
73, and of those 42 were Normal School teachers
—exclusive of Messrs. Kelly, Coate and Whitte-
comb.

Of the 48 teachers who held office in the course
of 1857, twenty-three were Normal School teach-
ers, twenty-five (25) held county board certificates,
and of these 6 were trained as teachers in Public
Normal Schools in Britain.

And of tho staff of teachers employed in the
city schools at the present time, namely, altoge-
ther 36, there are 18 Normal School teachers and
18 others, of whom, as before mentioned, 6 were
trained as teachers in Normal Schools at home.

Having thus disposed, I trust satisfactorily, of
the specific charge put forward by Dr. Ryerson—
that not one Normal School teacher had been
placed "«» charffe of a city school;' and only
'Hwo or three employed in subordinate positions; '
and having placed plain figures, for the general
accuracy of which I am responsible, in contrast
with gratuitous assertions, I will submit a few
brief observations upon the more general and
sweeping accusation that the school authorities of
Toronto have "ignored tho Normal School, al-
though established within its limits"— and I can

10

««rm, without th^^^iiWirof cih.radiotioi^
h. d„„„g the whole of »yS„pe„-nte„de„.,h^
extendmg over a period ofM years, all rewonv
Wo deference has been paid to the opinion and'
reeommendation of the Normal Sehool Tnthorities
1 can speak of my own knowledge with regard to
many appointments to the eity sehools.^whieh
were made wholly upon their reeommendat on and
If 7 '» ''■"■'"' "■- opinion had mueh nZ

from'./rtlTo"?'.'''' 'r" "PPo-'-n-t^ -ado
trom 47 to 50, I have aheady stated, were in a

^eat measure, based upon the recomm'endrt ^ "of

the head-master of the Normal School. Mr,

Corbe tt, the first female teacher employed und";

the clecfve board i„ 1851, and subsequently

Ln n » ^''"'•'.''-^'^et school-was appointed
Tss Quin?"r\"™ '""''''' "commendation,
school ;.""•""■«"" "^ «'"> I-onisa-street
school, owed her appointment to Mr. Robertson's
recommendafon. Mr. Spotton, "in charge of
the V.ctona-street school, was indebted to Mr
Orm,ston s recommendation. And when the Com^
m.ttee on Appo,ntments had under consideration
the selection of a successor to Mr. H. Brown as
head-master "in charge" of the Park school, so anx-

kLT-. 7 '" '"""" " goo-* Poacher, that
It was decided to accept whomsoever Mr. Kobert-
on and Rev. Mr. Ormiston (of theNormal School)"
shouW „commend.-Mr. Kelly was so recom
mended and appointed accordingly, although Z-

lae vjTjiieo Oi die situation.

and I may add, even a prudent undertaking in an

11

individual like myself, holding „o higher position
than that of Local Superintendent, to enter the
lists against one so powerful as the Chief Super-
intendent. I have, on more occasions than one
been exposed to much unmerited obloquy because'
I ivas suspected of being adverse to the preten-
sions of Normal School Teachers; and I have

Normal School irfluence, or rather I should say,
ts domination, has worked harm to my persona
interests, and has led to results which "a m„r
discreet course on my part might h- ■, prevented.
Believing, however, that honesty oi purpose, and
l; "* ;^ T^f P™^™' •>■""«■»-'' '» i-"™ been

Zlf'\ ^""f """ '^'""^ '" ""y ««"> from

the duty of openly and plainly expressing my
official opinion, (when called upon to do so) with
regard to School Teachers-based as I have ihZ
endeavored it should be, upon the characte^r
the attainments, the experience, and consequently
he ments of an applicant, altogether irrespective

Normal, h T/''\™' '^"■="^''' « «'■'«'« a
Normal School teacher or not. I have no preiu-

dices, as such, against Normal School Teache s;

butl have always resisted their claim to be recog-

nized and treated as having preferential righfs

over 0 her Teachers. I am the last man i.^'the

wo Id to ,g„ore the legitimate claims of the Nor-

ma School ; but, at the same time, I have no

hesi ation in stating, that most of the Teachers

School was ,n existence, were, to say the ka.,t, quite
as acserving of public confidence, as the main il „f
those whom the Normal School has sent^h.''
^'hile, as regards the staff ofTeache« now » of

12

late years employed in our Schools, I could name
several whom the Normal School, with all its
appliances, could not surpass or perhaps equal.

In a discusaion of this kind, when I find myself
placed in direct antagonism to the Chief Superin-
tendent, Avith regard to^ assertions embodied in an
official report, laid before Parliament, and sent
forth broadcast through the length and breadth
of the Province, I have thought it advisable not to
rest the case altogether upon my own statements
accurate as I deem ^thom to be, or my own facts,
stubborn as I may think them. I therefore directed
the attention of Dr. Workman (for many years
Chairman of this Board), and of Mr. Lesslie (for
many years a member of it) to the Special Report
in question ; and I submit herewith their statement
of facts, as corroborating what I have advanced.

_ Toronto, 9th August, 1858,

Dear Sir,

With reference to the passage in the Report of the
Chief Superintendent of Education, at page 50, to
which you have drawn my attention, and in which it
is stated that the Board of Trustees for Toronto " has
thought proper to ignore the Normal School, «fcc:r
&c." I beg leave, in compliance with your request,
to state that during the period in which I had the
honour of serving as a member of the Board, com*
prising several years prior to 1854, no application
for the situation of teacher was unfavourably con-
sidered,because, of being supported by Norma! School
testimonials; on the contrary the Board regarded Nor-
mal School training as a very important adjunct in the
qualification of teachers, though certainly not as sub* '
stitutive for that solid and well matured educalioh'

.8

could name
ith all its
3 equal.
Bnd myself
if Superin-
odied in an
and sent
■d breadth
able not to
statements
own facts,
re directed
lanj years
lesslie (for
ial Report
statement
ivanced.

T, 1858.

port of the
age 50, to
in which it
ronto " has
3hool, &C.i"
IT request,
I had the
lard, com"
pplication
rably con-
nal School
irded Nor-
inct in the
ot as sub-
education

which is attained in institutions of a different order,
and of merited celebrity, in both the old and new
world.

I have aUvays held the opinion that the Board
acted wisely in seeking the highest possible qualifi-
cation for the services of the City Common Schools;
and I am convinced that if in any case applicants,
presenting Normal School certificates, were unsuc-
cessful, the simple reason was, that their fortunate
competitors presented still more reliable proofs of
competency.

I have the honour to be

Faithfully yours,

J. Workman, M.D.
G. A. Barber, Esq., Sec.

B. of C. S., Toronto.

.- ^ „ Toronto, 4tii August, 1868.

My Dear Sir,

In the special Report of the Chief Superintendent
of Education, submitted to the Provincial Legislature
and Government, on the 20th April last, I find allu-
sions made to the School policy and system of
Toronto, which have no foundation in fact, and which,
if a fair specimen of the general accuracy of such
Reports must tend to shake all confidence in them.
In page 50 of that Report I find the following
language:— "Toronto has thought proper to ignore
the Normal School though established within its
limits, and not a Normal School Teacher has been
placed in charge of one of the Common Schools of
the Cityand only two or the employed in subordinate
positions."

The object intended to be subserved by the above
statement seems to have been to exalt Hamilton at
the expense of Toronto, because the former, the

u

Report alleges, " furnishes an illustration of the Pro-
vincial jyormal and Model School system," while
the latter, it affirms, affords only an illustration of
f the old system, expept in the character and furniture
of the School-houses." This statement also, seems
to have been made to meet the objections of a certain
writer against the whole School system, " on account
of the state (and expensiveness) of the Common
Schools of the city of Toronto."

Now, while willing to concede to the Normal and
Model School System all the excellence it may
reasonably claim, I cannot suppose that any system
will be exalted in the estimation of the community
by invidious comparisons, and misrepresentations
entirely at variance with facts.

The Public Schools of Toronto have had to contend
against many antagonistic influences which have
retarded their progres&and efficiency from the earliest
period of their existence, but more particularly since
the adoption of the free principle ; but, I emphatically
deny that they have, in any degree, failed in their
beneficient design from the causes alleged in the
special Report of the Chief Superintendent.

The question of fact, is, whether "Toronto has
ignored the Normal Shool," and " has not placed a
Normal School Teacher in charge of one of the Public
Schools of the City, and has only employed two or
three in subordinate positions?" Having for many
years taken an active part in the Board of Public
School Trustees, in this City, and occupied the place
of Chairman o^ the Committee on appointments to
office during the whole period, I believe of my coii-'
n«xidn with the City Schools, I give my unhesitating
testimony, that, in no instance within my knowledge
or fesoHection, was any tci»::-«jr who applied for
office rejected on the ground of his or her being a
^SfHftkSchoolSjtudeat* on having only a Normal

of the Pro-
m," while
straiion of
i furniture
ilso, seems
>f a certain
on account
Common

ormal and
e it may
ny system
ommunity
sentations

to contend
lich have
\ie earliest
arly since
phatically
I in their
ed in the
nt.

ronto has

t placed a

he Public

3d two or

for many

>f Public

the place

tments tp

my coii-

lesitating

lowledge

jiieU for

being a

Normal

'J?

15

«

School Certificate. Indeed, so far from this bcin?
the case, both the Lo<Jal Superintendent, Mr. Barber
and myseW. applied specially, on more occasions
than one, to th. Head Master Mr. Robertson, and
to the Assistant Master Rev. Mr. Ormiston, to ob-
tam, through their recommendation, teachers to fill
vacancies in the schools both for Principals and
subordinates.

The aim of the Board and Local Superintendent
has uniformaly been to secure the services of the
best qualified persons to fill the important office of
teacher, xviihout respect to the source whence the
individuals had derived their education ; while among
the number appointed, since the present schod
system was established, a large proportion, I believe,
Wi 1 be found, on examination, to have been Normal
School Students. It is true that some of our best
teachers were not educated at that Institution but
held certificates from the most reliable educational
authorities in the Mother Country or elsewhere-but
his, surely, forms no ground for the allegations con-
tained in the Chief Superintendent's Report.

I am my dear sir,
Yours truly,

r<»^ AD X- J. Lesslie. .

trEO. A. Barber, Esq., Sec. School

Board, Toronto.

Comment upon these facts and figures would be
altogether superfluous ; they speak plainly enough
of themselves; and show most conclusively that
unless the school authorities of Toronto had dig!
missed old and faithful servants, who had taught
m the City schools long before the Normal School
was thought of, so as to make way for Normal

16

School Teachers— or unless they had excluded the
claims of many meritorious Teachers who ventured
^/f across the Adantic to find a home, and the equal
right 0*" employment in Canada— ir unless they
had ignored the claims of the training schools of
England, Scotland, and Ireland — institutions es-
tablished and successful years and years before
Dr. Ryerson aspired to the office of Chief Super-
intendent— insti* "ons which, it may be safely said
pps^qsa as much n.. ,!t and as high a character, if
; li«t quite so much pretension, as that in Toronto —
unless, I say, these things had been done, and the
privileges of the City Board surrendered uncon-
ditionally into Dr. Ryerson's hands, so as to have
secured for the Normal School Teachers a mono-
poly of every situation in the City Schools, I really
do not understand what more could have been done,
or even expected, than the Toronto Board of Trus-
] rp -tees have performed in recognizing and availing of
' 3 the Toronto ^Normal School. .'

Having thus shown how partial, how unjust, and
I may even saj how unfounded has been the un-
called for attack made by the Chief Superintendent
upon the School authorities of this city, I leave
the Board and the public to form their pivn further
conclusions on the subject. * * ^ * J .^ ^ "

Respectfully submitted. ,

G. A. BARBER,

Acting Local Supt.
Toronto, 16th June, 1858.

{Adopted in Committee of the whole, December

Ihth, 1858.)

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